Following an improved, if unspectacular, final season in Oakland, not much was expected of the Athletics in 2025. In many ways, this season hasn’t been much different for the A’s: a record under .500 and a likely finish near the bottom of the AL West. Yet, despite the team’s unimpressive 62-72 record, a lot has gone right for the team this year. In early May, the Athletics looked like a potential playoff team, boasting a record north of .500 in large part thanks to shortstop Jacob Wilson’s torrid start to his career. But with such a young, inexperienced roster, it’s not too surprising the A’s hot streak cooled off quickly. A 7-21 record in May solidified the Athletics’ position near the bottom of the league standings. With nothing to lose and everything to gain, though, this plucky A’s squad refused to call it a lost season, instead using the last few months as an opportunity to set the stage for the future. As the season has progressed, the Athletics quickly realized that the franchise had stumbled upon a
